Drexel Men's Basketball Preview: Dragons Looking For Leaders

Drexel is a member of the City 6, the informal competition between all of Philadelphia's Division I schools and their athletic teams. They play basketball in a city full of rich basketball history. Last season, they were in the middle of their league.

Drexel men's basketball team is two years removed from its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance. FloHoops previews every team in the CAA.

Drexel won the CAA Tournament in 2020 and was the representative at the NCAA Tournament. In 2021, coach Zach Spiker won 15 games, but the team struggled to find consistency. Amari Williams was C AA Defensive Player of the Year. He played just 20 minutes a game, yet he averaged 9.5 points and 7.3 rebounds a night.

Drexel's defense ranked first in the CAA last season. The team was below average in defending 2-point field goals and creating turnovers. Camren Wynter is leaving for Penn State. He was an All-CAA first-team selection last year. He played 112 games in Philadelphia. Drexle will look for a new focal point of the offense.

Amari Williams and Xavier Bell were breakout performers for Drexel last season. Bell transferred to play with Wichita State. Williams is a defensive force and a shot-swatting machine. He didn't start his first game until January 11, but he had a 21-point, 12-rebound, four-block performance against James Madison.

Yame Butler is a sophomore guard from Greenbelt, Maryland. He played at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri last season. The Roadrunners have been a good junior college program for future Division I players. Drexel has six freshmen and three incoming transfers this season, including Butler. Coletrane Washington is the only upperclassman guard who has started games for Drexel in the past.

Drexel and Monmouth are playing a CAA men's basketball game on January 7th. It's the first time the teams have met. Monmouth is in a better state of the program under coach King Rice. Drexle is 9-3 against Mon mmouth dating back to 1993.